Cutting board bottom

[Sea Turtle]

I have been playing with the idea of removing the sand fomr my tank and installing a plastic cutting board bottom. Couple things. How hard is this to do since I already have the tank filled with LR and Sand? Aslo, where can I buy plastic cutting board that will be custom made to fit my tank?

 

[rbursek]

Well all would have to be taken out of the tank except the water. I would call a place that makes or supplies kitchen cabinets and counter tops, since some people have them installed in a counter top. Why do you want to do this? A piece of acrylic may work too and easier to find a piece to cut to the size you need.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Well all would have to be taken out of the tank except the water. I would call a place that makes or supplies kitchen cabinets and counter tops, since some people have them installed in a counter top. Why do you want to do this? A piece of acrylic may work too and easier to find a piece to cut to the size you need.

It makes the tank much easier to keep clean. Also, I think that it looks better. YOu can really get the water flowing fast and not have the sand blowing all around.

 

[Ben1]

FWIW I ran my BB tanks with nothing down. I think that glass is much harder to break the suspected, and being full of water helps. I dropped lots of rocks with no issues, and havent seen any threads on people breaking their BB with falling rocks but I guess you never know. If I go BB in my new tank I am just going to leave the rock and syphon out the sand. A faux sand bed has always interested me but if its covered in coralline in a few months whats the point. You can get many sizes here,

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/produc ... 5Fid=13494 and then use a tablesaw or w/e you have and cut it to size.

 

[Anonymous]

Click on the link to the 300G build thread in my sig. You'll see how I did it and find links to others who've done it.

Louey

 

[iseeweed]

I used a cutting board called superboard. I think I got it at Target. I bought 4 boards and used a table saw to cut the board. There are small seams, but you really can't notice them at all.

 

[Posh]

This is where I got mine. They cut it to my specs: http://www.cuttingboardcompany.com/

I have been very happy with it.

 

[Sea Turtle]

This is where I got mine. They cut it to my specs: http://www.cuttingboardcompany.com/

I have been very happy with it.

Ahhhh, thank you. That was the sight that I was looking for. I have seen it before but could not remember what it was.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Now, what thickness should I get?

Also, If I get this cut specifically to the dimentions of tank floor, will I be able to get it into the tank? I have the standard 75 gallon with the cross member up top.

 

[Ben1]

Make a cardboard cut out the same size and try, I think you will need two pieces but give it a shot with a piece of cardboard before you order.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Do I have to worry about things getting under it and producing excess nuttrients? In other words, should it be propped up a bit so that water flows under and around?

 

[Sea Turtle]

I also have a sand sifting starfish in the tank. Will he be ok without sand?

 

[Anonymous]

I also have a sand sifting starfish in the tank. Will he be ok without sand?

In a word, no. :|

 

[iseeweed]

Here are some old pics when I put in my bottom. I'm pretty sure we have the same tank(or at least the same footprint). I think I got the cutting board at Target(14X17). Just be careful if you cut it with a tablesaw(it likes to grab the blade). I made a cardboard template and used a jigsaw to cut the curved part in front of the overflow.

 

[Posh]

I got 1/2" thickness and got it cut in three sections to fit inside my tech tank. It has euro bracing so it would not fit as one piece. I got it cut about 1/4" short around each side and overflow box so I could easily siphon out detris. Things do get underneath it so if you can seal it with silicone and have it stick I would do that, but I seem to remember it would not stick to starboard.. but I'm not positive on that.

 

[Anonymous]

Personally I find the cutting board thing kind of goofy. I have never put anything on my BB tanks in the past.

The get the sand out, syphon it during the weekly water changes from the bottom of the sand in one location. Pulling it from the bottom gets the nasty crap out while keeping it covered. Will take several weeks. If you are extreemly careful and don't get in a rush it will be just fine.

 

[iseeweed]

Personally I find the cutting board thing kind of goofy. I have never put anything on my BB tanks in the past.

The get the sand out, syphon it during the weekly water changes from the bottom of the sand in one location. Pulling it from the bottom gets the nasty crap out while keeping it covered. Will take several weeks. If you are extreemly careful and don't get in a rush it will be just fine.

I always liked the idea of gluing a substrate on the board to give it a more authentic look. I was just too lazy to do it. I think the white bottom looks better than just glass though. My tank is sitting on blue foam, so personally I think that would look rather goofy.